The National tribune., 1887-07-14
GEN. sCHoEPF.
A Comrade Thinks lie Was the Real Hero Of rIll
Springs or Logan's Crossroads.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: have few
words TO say about the battle of LOgan's Cross
roads. We-the 1st and I'd regiments and
some two or three others, and Col. WOlford's
cavalry-were at Somerset, Pulaski Co. KY,
and had been from October.1S6l to this date.
On the 18th OF January, 1862, we left Somerset.
1t was n beautiful day. We arrived at Logan's
Crossroads about or 5 o'clock. 1t became
very cloudy in the afternoon, and so remained
till next morning about 2 o'clock, when il be-
gan to rain. and for two or three hours the rain
came down in torrents. | never saw it rain
harder Toward day l heard firing, and in a
short time our pickets were driven in The
battle-ground was in the form of q triangle
an old field on one side and a dense wood on
the other with a County road between the old
field and the woods.
Gen. Schoepf was ordered to Somerset with q
battery of artillery and two regiments of in
fantry to prevent Zollicoffer from crossing the
Cumberland. But Zollieofer had succeeded in
crossing the Cumberland River with about
5000 men and established himself on the north
side opposite Mill Spring. To my mind Gen.
Schoepf was the hero Of the battle. Gen.
Thomas was at Lebanon. or on the road from
Lebanon to Mill Springs, when this battle WAS
fought, with the 9th Ohio, I'd Mimi, 10th Ind,
and the 4th Ky. regiments Of infantry, Ken
ny's battery of the ist Ohio Art, Wolfords
regiment of Kentucky cavalry, and four COM
panies of the LIST Mich. Engineers. i think
Gen. Thomas was not on the ground when
ZolicotTer made his attack, but got there dur
ing the fight or about its close.
The enemy received information that only
two regiments had reached Logan's Crossroads,
and that the rest were behind, exhausted. He
left his intrenchments on the evening of Jan.
Is saturday. with the intention of over
whelmiDg the small force at Logan's Cross
roads. He encountered the Federal pickets at
daylight Sunday morning the 10Th of January,
and drove them in rapidly. The 10th Ind. and
the 4th Ky. were quickly formed. and ad-
vanced into the woods nearly half mile. We
held our position against the rebels desperate
assault till the arrival Of the 9Th Ohio and I'd
Mimi.
The battle was then renewed by these two
fresh regiments attacking the rebels in front,
the 18th KY, while the list and ID East Tenn.
advanced to the right and rear.
The battle ragged furously for at least an
hour. until the 9th Ohio routed the enemy s
left at the point Of the bayonet. This was the
first and only bayOnet charge / ever witnessed.
This regiment was commanded by one Of the
McCOOl1s. A drawer man never saw.
That afternoon i saw him in company with
either Gen Thomas or Gen. Carter near the
Cumberland River, 10 miles from the battle
ground. They were on their horses. i rode
up to them aud tipped them the military salute.
IN "A lew ulolltnlo nOlASCu 4uItc 4u1uIlty VI
blood on McCOCk's leg
j said: Colonel. You have been wounded"
Not that ] know OF" said he.
i dismOunted from my horse, and at my re-
quest he did the same. Upon examination
found a wound in one of his legs, made by a
bullet. He had been struck two or three inches
below the knee with bullet, that took away at
least one-thrd of the large bone in that leg
dressed il aud gave him directions what 70 do.
i feel sure l never saw him again.
The 9th Ohio was made up of Germans most
of whom had been under fire in the Father
land" McCOOk commanded in the German
tongue, and when they charged the 18th Miss.
and Goth Tenn. the command was given in the
German language. These regiments did not
know what the 9th was going TO do until it
raised the yell and WAS double quicking toward
them. The rebels fell back aud began rapid
and disOrderly retreat toward their intrench-
ments. Our men followed them as soon as they
could, but they were too late. They had
crossed the river, most of them, and left wag-
ons, horses, in short everything for the Federals
TO get if they wanted. Zollicofer was nicely
fixed. He had no idea of an attack or attack
ing. They were located in large cottonwood
or poplar bottom. They had cut the trees
down, split them in two, aud built several
hundred nice and comfortable cabins. Some
of the cabins had glass windows and puncheOn
floors ia them. They were fixed up nicely for
the Winter here. Zollieoffer fell at this battle,
killed by Col. Fry. Thomas was one of the
best Of men. He was brave and kind and
fought number Of battles but with all re-
spect to his memory, Gen. SchOepf was the hero
of Mill Springs or LOgan's CrOss-roads.-A.
NEAT, 81. D., New Albany Ind.